Blower apparatus



21, 1946. A. I. PONOMAREFF EfAL 2,400,711

' BLOWER APPARATUS Filed Jan. 3, 1944' 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Eq- Fic l.

WITNESSES INVENTORS 1 1 LEXRNOER I.PouoMRnE|-F' wnunm R. MRYNE.

Q1, 0% M ATTORNEY T WITNESSES:

y 1946. A. PONOMAREFF ET AL 2,400,711

BLOWER APPARATUS I Filed Jan. 3, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fla- ,8.

INVENTORS msxmwsm I. PONOMRREF'F 8N0 WILLBPYRM R. MBYNE.

' ATTORNEY wagmeuwg.

y 1946. A. 1. PONOMAREFF ETAL 2,400,711

BLOWER APPARATUS Filed Jan. 3, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 WITNESSES:

INVENTOR S W RLsXanngn I-PouoMRREl-F mm wnurm R. Marne.

ATTORNEY Patented May 21, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OF I Alexander I. Ponomare William A. Mayne, L to Westinghouse Electric Corporation,

a corporation of Pennsylvania Pittsburgh, Pa.,

ansdowne, Pa.,

3, -Upper Darby, and

assig'nors East Application January 3, 194}, Serial No. 516,792.

' 9 Claims. (Cl. 230-122) this flange 24 being adapted to be secured to any This. invention relates to propeller blowers, and has for an object to provide apparatus of this character wherein the motor device'ior driving the propeller is overhung with respect to the propeller shaft, thereby requiring only one shaft gland, resulting in decreased overall length of the blower unit.

Ajurther object of the invention is to provide. in a propeller blower of the vertical type, a novel fabricated supporting structure for the propeller shaft upper bearing.

Another object o the invention is to provide, in a propeller blowr of the vertical type, novel means for retumln oil from the upper bearing of the propeller shaft to the reservoir.

vide, in a propeller blower of the vertical type,

novel means for cooling the oil from the upper bearing during return of said oil to the reservoir.

A further object of the invention is toprovide, in a pr peller blower of the vertical type novel slop dra n construction.

These and'other objects are effected by the invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in' connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of propeller blower apparatus embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1; and,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line IIIIII of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, the reference character I 0 indicates, in its entirety, a propeller blower of the vertical type, wherein adouble-walled casing provides an annular passage II for flow of air through the apparatus. The annular passage comprises a converging inlet portion I2 and a diverging outlet portion 18, joined by a throat portion H. The inlet portion I2 is definedby an annular outer wall section It and a cooperating annular inner wall section 11. The outlet portion comprises an outer ,wall section l8 and an inner wall section l9, the outer wall sections it and I8 being joined by the outer wall section 2| of'the throat section and the inner walls I! and I 9 hav-.

ing the inner wall section 22 of the throat portion located therebetween. The outlet portion l3 carries an external radially-projecting flange 23, secured to the main flange 24, carried by the bottom or last section 25 of the outlet portion,

. 1 Yet another object of the invention is to pro-- desired supporting structure, for example, the

deck of the ship on which the blower is installed.

The-lower portionof the casing inner .wall terminates in the fairing member 26, providing a streamlined exit for air passing through theblower structure.

The inner casing sections are supported from the corresponding sections of the outer casinghave their inner and outer edges welded or other- 1 wise secured to the inner and outer casing sece tion's, respectively.

Within the throat portion u are positioned first stage propeller blades 33, carriedby a-hub structure 34, and second stage propeller blades 35, carried by a. hub structure 3 6. Both of these hubs are fixedly secured on the vertical shaft 31 with the blades 99 and 85 positioned at opposite sides, axially, of the intermediate guide vanes 29.

The lower terminal portion of the shaft 31 is supported by a combined thrust and radial bearing 39, which include the bearing housing (Fig. 2), supported from the inner casing section I9 of the outlet portion. A thrust bearing supporting structure M is secured to the bearing housing 40 in a suitable manner and carries the thrust bearing 42 which engages the lower end 43 of the shaft 31.

An impeller type pump 430: provides lubrication for the thrust bearing 42 and radial bearing 44, while a viscosity-type pump 45 directs oil under pressure through the shaft bore 41 to the upper radial bearing 48 (Fig. 1). The impeller type pump 43a likewise directs oil, under pressure, through the conduit 49 to the governor mechanism 50, which controls the main motive fluid admission valve 5|, through the linkage 52. A conduit 53 conducts oil under. pressure from the pump 43a to the oil cooler 54 from which it returns through the conduit 55 to the reservoir 55.

The upper radial bearing 48 is carried bya bearing housing 60, resting on the supporting- -T'his space 11 carries a sleeve-like member 64 extending up wardiy beneath the downwardly-projecting lip of the skirt member 65, carried by the shaft 81. This overlapping construction of sleeve member 64 and skirt 65 assures that oil discharged from the upper bearing 48 will be deposited upon the upper inclined surface of the frusto-conical memcant therepast from surface of the inner wall the bearing to the -inner section". An annular plate member II is disposed horizontally with its, outer periphery secured to the inner -wall :section- V l1 and its inner periphery correspondingly secured to the supporting ring 8}, whereby it serves to transmit radial stressesfrom the ring to the inner casing.

The three fabricated members 63. 81; and" are braced, or interconnected, by a plurality of IO inits lower edge; whereby there maybe uninterrupted flow oflubrithe exhaust pipe 8|.

88 is supported by a plurality of spaced legs 82 supplied to the turbine through the main admis sion valve SI and h The turbine casing or stator secured to bosses 88, carried by theannular inner wall sections ll of the inlet portion l2, by suitable means, such as bolts 8|. It should be noted that this arrangement of an overhung turbine requires only one shaft sealing gland 85, thereby reducing the cost of manufacture. of the apparatus and providing for a unit of minimum overv all length, and minimum steam leakage from the cylinder. 1 Y

Preferably, the inlet portion I! of the annular passage H is provided with an anti-recirculation ring 98, in a well-known manner, .and the inlet to this portion is covered by suitable screening 88, retained in operative position upon the beaded edges I and IN, by any suitable means.

While the invention has been shown in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the the appended claims;

radial web members l2, disposed in vertical planes r and having their iower,-inner and upper edges welded or otherwise .sec'ured to the members 83, :61 and II, respectively, f

the web members 12""aresurface of the inner waii.

The outer edges of spaced'from the inner sections H, at 18,; whereby oil flowing down the inclined surface of the frusto-conical member.

may likewise flow 'circumferentially along the inner surface of said innerlwall sections i'l past the outer ends of the web members 12. The inner wall section II is provided with one or more openings I5 providing communication with'the hollow exteriors of the suction guide vanes,-

and the outer wall sections it are providedwith corresponding openings 18 forming exits from the hollow exteriors of the inlet guide vanes, whereby said guide vanes function as passages for flow of oil from the upper surface of the frusto-conlcal member 88 to the space." provided between the annular outer wall section it and a conical plate I8,- cooperating with saidouter wall section. is provided with a conduit "for return of oil from the space to the reservoir 58.

As oil flows through hollow guide vanes 28 and' circumferentially about the lower casing in the space IT, to reach the single discharge conduit 19, it passes in contact with the outer surface of the outer wall section It, while air in large quantities is passing in contact with the inner surface of said outer wall section, whereby the oil is cooled.

One of the hollow suction guide vanes 28 (shown at the right in Fig. 1) is provided with a partition 83 dividing the space therein into a lower passage 84 and upper passage 85, the lower passage 84 functioning to conduct oil from the upper-surface of the frusto-conical member 63 to the oil drainage space I1, and the upper passage 85, together with the conduit 88, providing aislop drain for water collecting upon the annular plate member H.

In the construction'herein illustrated, a shaft 81 is driven by a turbine comprising a rotor 89 secured to the upper .end of the shaft 81 and art that it is not solimited, but is susceptible, of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and it is desired; therefore, placedthereupon as are specifically set What is claimed is:'

1. In ablower, an outer casing-having convergent inlet and divergent outlet portions ioined .by a throat portion: a propeller in the throat portion and having a hub; a shaft disposed axially h of the casing and carrying the propeller hub. one end of said shaft terminatingwithin the diver 3i gent portion of the casing andthe other end thereof projecting beyond the convergent end-of said casing: first guide vane structure associated with the outlet portion of the f'outer casingand including first vanes having their outer ends joined to the divergent portion of the outer casing and having their innerends joined to a first inner annular member disposed concentrically with respect to the divergent portion and defining the inner wall of an outlet passage, whereby said inner annular memberis supported from the outer casing by said vanes; a first bearing structure carried by the inner annular-member and supporting that end ofthe shaft which terminates within the divergent portion of the casing; second guide'vane structure associated with the inlet'portion, of the outer casing and, including second vanes having their outer ends ioined to the convergent portion of said'casing and having their inner ends joined to a second inner annular member disposed concentrically with respect to 'ne'r wall of an inlet passage, whereby said second inner annular member is supported from the outer casing by said second vanes; a second bearing structure carried by the second inner annular member and supporting the shaft near, but spaced;

, the end thereof which projects beyond' the fro casing; and means for driving the shaft. l

2. Structure as specified 7 the second bearing is supported from the second irmer annular member through .;,intermediate structure including a pair of axially- -spacedand laterally-extending annular members having their outer peripheries joined to said second inner annular member; a ringto which the inner periphery of one of said axially-spaced and laterally-extending annular members is secured; an

axially-extending tubular member joining the other of said axially-spaced and laterally-extendenclosed in a casing or stator so. Motivefluid is ins a u a membe s o the rin a d a plu a i y discharges therefrom through theconvergent inlet portion and defining the inin claim 1. wherein extending, plate-like members Joined at their edges to the axially-spaced and laterally-extending annular members andto the tubular member and providing web structures therebetween.

8. In a vehicle propeller-type blower, a doublewalled casing providing an annular passage for flow of air, said passage having a converging inlet portion and a diverging outlet portion connected.

by a throat portion; a propeller in the throat portion and having a hub; a vertically-disposed shaft carrying the propeller hub and having its lower terminal portion radially aligned with the outlet portion; a combined radial and thrust bearing carried by the outlet portion of the casing and supporting said lower terminal portion of the shaft; means for driving said shaft; a radial bearing for the upper end of the shaft at a point below the driving means; a housing for 'said bearing; and means for supporting said housing from the inlet'portion of the casing, said means com prising a supporting ring to which the housing is bolted, a frusto-conical member having the periphery of its base secured to the inlet portion of the casing, a tubular member surrounding and coaxial with the shaft and secured at its lower edge to the upper surface of the frusto -conical member and supporting on its upper edge the suppo ting ring, and an annular plate having its outer periphery joined to the inlet portion of the casing and its inner periphery joined to the supporting ring to transmit radial forces from the" latter to the former.

4. Structure as specified in claim 3, including vertical radial webs between'the frusto-conical member and the annular plate.

5. In a vertical propeller-type blower, a doublewalled casing providing an annular passage for flow of air, said passage having a convergent inlet portion and a divergent outlet portion connected by a throat portion; a propeller in the throat portion and having a hub; a verticallydisposed shaft carrying the propeller hub; a combined radial and thrust bearing carried by the outlet portion of the casing and supporting the lower terminal portion of the shaft; means for driving said shaft; a, radial bearing for the a flow path for said oil, said outer wall being common toand separating said 011 flow path and the. air flow path through the blower, whereby the air passing i contact with the inner surface of said common wall cools the oil passing in contact with the outer surface thereof.

7. In a vertical propeller-type blower, a doublewalled easing providing an annular passage. for flow of air, said passage having inlet and outlet portions connected by a throat portion; a propeller in the throat portion and having a hub; a vertically-disposed -shaft carrying the propeller hub; a combined radial and thrust bearing car- .ried by the casing and supporting the lower tertion of the shaft; 9, housing for said bearing;

upper portion of the shaft: means for supporting said last-mentioned bearing from the inlet portion of the casing, said means including a frusto-conical member having the periphery of its base secured to the inner wall of said inlet portion of the casing and extending therefrom upwardly and inwardly to within close proximity to the shaft at a point below the bearing and adapted to receive on its inclined upper surface oil discharged from saidbearing; a plurality of hollow pre-twist guide vanes or supporting strutsdisposed in the inlet portion of the annular passage and serving to support the inner wall thereof from the outer, said inner and outer Walls having openings therethrough providing inlets to and outlets from the hollow interiors of the pre-twist guide vanes or supporting struts, said inlet openings in the inner walls being aligned with the upper surface of the frusto-conical member, whereby oil collecting thereon may flow through the hollow guide vanes to the exterior of the double-walled casing; an oil reservoir; and means for conducting to said reservoir oil flow-- ing through said hollow guide vanes.

6. Structure as specified in claim 5, wherein the means for conducting to the reservoir the oil flowing through the hollow guide vanes in-- cludes an annular plate cooperating with the for the upper end of the shaft at a point below and means for supporting said bearing housing,.

said means including a frusto-conical member having the outer periphery of its base secured to the inner wall of the casing inlet portion, the member extending upwardly and inwardly to within close proximity to the shaft at a point below the bearing and being adapted to receive on its inclined upper surface 011 discharged from said bearing, a vertically-disposed cylindrical member concentric with and spaced from the shaft with its lower edge secured to the upper surface of the frusto-conical member and having one or more openings th'erethrough adjacent its lower edge for unobstructed flow of oil down the inclined upper surface of the frusto-conical member, a supportingring secured to theupper edge of said cylindrical inember and to which the bearing housing is bolted, and a plurality of hollow guide vanes joined at their inner and outer edges tothe inner and outer walls, respectively, of the'inlet portion of the casing, said inner and outer walls having openings therethrough communicating with the hollow interiors of the guide vanes, said openings in the inner wall being disposed above the plane of the upper surface of the frusto-conlcal member, whereby said hollow guide vanes constitute conduits for flow ,of oil from the frusto-conical member to the exterior of the double-walled casing.

8. Structure as specified in claim 7, including a member cooperating with the outer wall of the, inlet portion of the casing to define therewitha passage for flow of oil received from the hub; a combined radial and thrust bearing supporting the lower terminal portion of the shaft; means for driving said shaft; a radial bearing said driving means; a housing for the last-men- .tioned bearing; supporting means for said housing and bearing including a supporting ring to which the housingis secured, and an annular plate member secured at its innerperiphery to said supporting ring and at its outer periphery to the inner wall of the casing inlet portion and providing a water-tight closure between said outer wall of, the casing inlet portion to provide formed therein communicating the hollow.

interior oi said one guide vane, whereby said one guide vane provides a. discharge passage for water collecting on said annular plete member.

ALEXANDER I. eonommm. WILLIAM A. mm 

